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VOTE411 Voter Guide

2024 State House Thirteenth Norfolk District

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is comprised of 160 members, each representing a district of approximately 40,000 people and each elected for a two-year term. As required by the Massachusetts Constitution, the House meets year-round in either formal or informal sessions to consider legislation. The Massachusetts House is led by the Speaker of the House who is elected by the members of the body at the beginning of each two-year legislative session. Base salary for each representative is approximately $66,256.

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  • Candidate picture

    William R. Dermody
    (U)

  • Candidate picture

    Joshua Tarsky
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Do you support election day voter registration? Why or why not?

What actions should the legislature take to address the climate emergency?

What should the legislature do to increase the supply of affordable and middle-market housing in Massachusetts?

What measures would you support to deal with the needs of the large number of immigrants coming to Massachusetts?

What are your priorities for dealing with transportation statewide and in your district?

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I do. The right to vote is sacred, and we should do everything in our power to ensure that that right is fulfilled in a free and secure manner.
We should do as much as we can. The climate crisis is an existential threat to our planet, and as legislators, we need to do our part. This means not just as policy positions, but in our approach to all problems in the Commonwealth. I would advocate for the electrification of the transportation sector, the banning of plastics where feasible, the promotion of green energy, and many more green policies to come. On the whole, we must do more to protect our world for those generations who come after us.
We should utilize existing policies to the fullest because the housing crisis we now face is getting worse by the day. The MBTA Communities Act, Chapter 40B, and now the Affordable Homes Act, are all powerful steps towards achieving a greater supply. I also believe that a tax credit for public servants (teachers, firefighters, etc.) would ensure we could bring in and keep these important people contributing to our towns.
Like so many, my family came to America as immigrants. For decades our country has welcomed and protected those fleeing violence and turmoil around the world. Continuing to protect migrants with Temporary Protected Status and urging for the expedited processing of immigrant visas is a welcome humanitarian action that will prevent further suffering and ensure that migrant families are able to legally remain in the United States until it is safe for them to return home.
Our public transportation needs to improve, both for our climate and for the efficiency and safety of our communities. A streamlined electric public transportation system would drastically reduce our state’s carbon emissions and provide all people a freedom of movement necessary to create a thriving economy, link communities together, and counteract historic inequities.